Forwardness and Consolidation

Sunnyside, Cooranbong, N.S.W.,

May 31, 1896.

Elder O. A. Olsen,
Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.A.:

My dear Brother,

..... Scenes that were a shame to Christians, have been presented to me, as taking place in the council meetings held after the Minneapolis meeting. The loud voice of dispute, the hot spirit, the harsh words, resembled a political meeting more than a place where Christians were met for prayer and counsel. These meetings should have been dismissed as an insult to heaven. The Lord was not revered as an honored guest by those assembled in council, and how could they expect divine light to shine upon them; how could they feel that the presence of Jesus was molding and fashioning their plans? The place of meeting was not held as sacred, but was looked upon as a common business place. Then how could those assembled receive an inspiration which would lead them to enthrone truth in their hearts, to speak words in the tender, loving spirit of the Master?SpM 33.1

In your council meetings and committee meetings, decisions are made, plans devised and matured, which, when put into practice, leave an impression on the work at large; and no vestige of a spirit of harshness should appear. Loud, impatient words should never be heard. Remember that in all your council meetings there is a heavenly Watcher. Do not allow one word of vanity to be spoken: for you are legislating for God, and He says to you, “Be still, and know that I am God.”SpM 33.2

If your committee meetings and council meetings are not under the direct supervision of the spirit of God, your conclusions will be earth-born, and worthy of no more consideration than are any man's expressions. Christ says, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” If He is not honored in your assemblies as chief Counsellor, your planning comes from no higher source than the human mind.SpM 33.3

Brother Olsen, you speak of my return to America. For three years I stood in Battle Creek as a witness for the truth. Those who then refused to receive the testimony given me by God for them, and rejected the evidences attending these testimonies, would not be benefited should I return.SpM 33.4

I shall write to you: but should I return to Battle Creek and bear my testimony to those who love not the truth, the ever ready words would rise from unbelieving hearts, “Somebody has told her.” Even now unbelief is expressed by the words, “Who has written these things to Sister White?” But I know no one who knows them as they are, and no one could write that which he does not suppose has an existence. Some one has told me - He who does not falsify, misjudge, or exaggerate any case. While at Minneapolis He bade me follow Him from room to room that I might hear what was spoken in the bed chamber. The enemy had things very much his own way. I heard no word of prayer, but I heard my name mentioned in a slurring, criticising way.SpM 33.5

I shall never, I think, be called to stand under the direction of the Holy Spirit as I stood at Minneapolis. The presence of Jesus was with me. All assembled in that meeting had an opportunity to place themselves on the side of truth by receiving the Holy Spirit which was sent by God in such a rich current of love and mercy. But in the rooms occupied by some of our people, we heard ridicule, criticism, jeering, laughter. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit were attributed to fanaticism. Who searched the Holy Scriptures as did the noble Bereans, to see if the things they heard were so? Who prayed for divine guidance? The scenes which took place at this meeting made the God of Heaven ashamed to call those who took part in them, His brethren. All this the heavenly Watcher noticed, and it is written in the book of God's remembrance.SpM 34.1

The Lord will blot out the transgression of those who, since that time, have repented with a sincere repentance, but every time the same spirit wakens in the soul, the deeds done on that occasion are endorsed, and the doers of them are made responsible to God, and must answer for them at His judgment throne. The same spirit that actuated the rejectors of Christ, rankles in their hearts, and had they lived in the days of Christ, they would have acted toward Him in a manner similar to that of the godless and unbelieving Jews.SpM 34.2

God's servants have no tame testimony to bear at this time, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. He who rejects the light and evidence God has been liberally bestowing upon us, rejects Christ: and for him there is no other Saviour.SpM 34.3